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Billy Price
Billy Price's blog
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The Commitment of a Terrorist
5 stars|5 comments|July 04, 2007|1102 reads
 

I was eating breakfast this morning and reading about the recent terrorist attack in London. What caught my attention was who staged the attack. They were mainly doctors and medical personnel all working at the same hospital. It made me start thinking, what would cause a person to risk it all for a cause? I mean these people risked it all; their jobs, their family and even their lives. I was shocked to learn that after 911 interest in Islam went up because people wanted to believe in something worth dying for. We hate to admit it but these people are committed.

Why do we find such small commitment among Christians. We are not committed to a cause but a person and His name is Jesus. The commitment of terrorists should pale in comparison to followers of Christ. But sad to say that is not the case especially in America. As a pastor I see first hand the commitment of believers or the lack of it. There are wonderful exceptions but sad to say most Christians are committed only as long as it is convenient. I don't know how it is at your church but we have a hard time just keeping the nursery staffed.

Do you think I am overreacting? Did Jesus call for this radical commitment? Let's listen to Jesus:

Matthew 16:24 (NKJV)
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

Luke 14:26 (NLT)
"If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, more than your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.

Why is the church in America in such a weak condition? Could it be because we have lost this dedication to the cause of Christ? In the early days of the church in the book of Acts one of the reasons the church exploded was because there was a group of believers who were willing to die for faith.

5:25 And there came one and told them, Behold, the men whom ye put in the prison are in the temple standing and teaching the people. 5:26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them, `but' without violence; for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 5:27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 5:28 saying, We strictly charged you not to teach in this name: and behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 5:29 But Peter and the apostles answered and said, we must obey God rather than man.

Today the church is exploding once again but this time it is in China were this same radical commitment is in place. Is there hope for America? Only if we can see a return to this radical commitment to Christ.

 


 

I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

Though I may wonder, I still will follow;
Though I may wonder, I still will follow;
Though I may wonder, I still will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.

The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.

Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.

Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.


 
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Bunny Wilson
 Bunny Wilson
July 04, 2007

"Why is the church in America in such a weak condition? Could it be because we have lost this dedication to the cause of Christ?"  

I've just begun leading a women's Bible study based on Oswald Chamber's My Utmost for His Highest so the quote above resonated with me from the July 2 entry of the book.  Chambers said, "There is a difference between devotion to a Person and devotion to principles or to a cause.  Our Lord never proclaimed a cause; He proclaimed personal devotion to Himself."

A commitment to Christianity may change some hearts, but a real commitment to Christ will change every heart. 

"Only if we can see a return to this radical commitment to Christ."  Amen!   

 

Chad Cox
 Chad Cox
July 04, 2007
I think the Me attitude in America is why people are not commited to Christ. They are putting Christ on the back burner until they need Him. The attitude is give me what I want and give it to me now. But when death or an injury comes into someones life they are on their knees praying for Christ to help them. I guess at least they do know who to go to when times are tough. I just wish more people would come to Christ when times are easy and Praise Him.
Chris Chesley
 Chris Chesley
July 04, 2007
amen. may we see this change in our own church.
Adam Bradberry
 Adam Bradberry
July 06, 2007
Bro. Billy I  really loved this blog.. thanks for the insight and the challenge..
john cummins
 john cummins
July 19, 2007

Bunny,

I would say, lack of vision for the greatness of God's Kingdom. Where there is a lack of vision people cast off restraint and sin. Christianity is so very turned inwardly when there is a world that needs Christ in every way, not just personal salvation but political, economic, relationship, etc.

This involves proper understanding of Covenant (which is sadly lacking). The best explanation I've seen is the book That you May Prosper by Ray Sutton. In fact, I've seen NO other good explanation.

It requires MEN to wake up and not allow the Reduction of Christianity and the continual putting God in a Box. Christ did so much more on the cross than many realize and it effects all of creation. 

So called "terrorists" are commited because they have very long range vision, they believe in the inevitability of victory (it is predestined), and they believe in world dominion...this is why the three major "world views" are in conflict: humanism, christianity, and islam...and right now Islam appears to be winning...

Also, it is because Islamicists have large families. We have disobeyed God's clear command to multiply, physically and are being destroyed by it. While the vision of many communist/marxists has wavered recently we still see a lot of false optimism in places like Venezuela, Bolivia, and a lot of S. America BUT communists abort their children and humanists abort their children.

So, (I'll stop for now), with a vision for the future, a vision for victory, a vision for Christ's Kingdom,  a true understanding of Covenant, and a proper eschatology: we will develop the commitment of a "terrorist". Remember, the only faithful to the Quran Moslems ARE the "terrorists". They are doing it all for Allah, according to their perverted book.